Daizen Maeda, Yang, Benjamin Nygren, James Forrest, Michel-Ange Balikwisha – a collection of souls who have filled in wide right for Celtic this season, have I missed any? Possibly, amid so much churn.
Behind them, we’ve had Alistair Johnston (before injury), Anthony Ralston (before injury) and Colby Donovan (before injury). If you watch Celtic, you’ll notice how left-sided we are. Little wonder. There has been no opportunity to build partnerships on the right.
Such are the vagaries of football. Alistair’s comments about being on-track for an early return are welcome, but it will be another month before we see anything like a product partnership on the right.
This makes us more predictable, opponents will focus increasingly on Sebastian Tounekti. Big tests lie ahead before the shape of the team looks balanced.
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Good day gents
From a very, very wet Denia.
Re. article – Donovan is injured?
It’s almost as if there was a catastrophic failure of recruitment.
No criticism of the board for leaving us with no right winger?
At least Jotas favoured position is on the right……
Was the left sided Tounetki (formally announced 01 September) a club signing?
Obviously Brendan has already clarified that the left sided Balikwisha (formally announced 28 August) was a player he wanted.
Very Good Point…
When you think last year we had Kuhn, Arne an AJ knitting so well down the right
Looking every inch the UCL level combo.
That takes excellent players with great attributes coached to a very high level
It certainly doesn’t happen by accident nor from a financial spreadsheet.
Hail Hail
Notthebus @ 12:23 pm
Is it? That could be huge.
Hail Hail
A much welcome acknowledgement of the clear constraints imposed on Brendan. And a not insignificant constraint – being functional down one side of the pitch only is a considerable problem.
Too many left wingers . That’s what happens when recruitment is in the hands of right wing tories .
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 10th October 2025 12:29 pm
Was the left sided Tounetki (formally announced 01 September) a club signing?
Obviously Brendan has already clarified that the left sided Balikwisha (formally announced 28 August) was a player he wanted.
____
BR outlined previously that the plan going into the summer was to recruit two left wingers to facilitate the sale of Maeda. The lack of striking additions meant Maeda stayed.
GuyFaulksForeveraHero
Hi, been trying to contact you via email, you obviously haven’t seen it, any chance you can contact me.
Take care
HH
DeniaBhoy on 10th October 2025 12:19 pm
Re. article – Donovan is injured?
He played for Scotland U21 last night , so obviously not .
DeniaBhoy
We are just on the edge of the storm here presently, hopefully it will pass us by this year, last year was a efing nightmare.
HH
The Exiled Tim – Where are you?
We are okay in Denia, just some localised flooding. Not nearly as bad as Alicante and Elche though, they got some serious flooding yesterday.
DeniaBhoy
Closest town would be Baza, we are half way between Alicante and Malaga, just into the mountains, cave land.
A few years back I watched a house sliding down the hillside, scary stuff.
HH
Easy to forget Jota was a right winger by the time he left time round. Our first choice front 3 for the cup final was Maeda, Kyogo, Jota. More games on the right than the left in the second half of the season.
Also more goals and assists in total at Celtic from right wing than left.
If only we had some period of time, a ‘window’ perhaps, when the squad could be assessed and strengthened as required.
Twice per year would be ideal
Fantastic turnout for Ricky Hatton’s funeral,exceptional commentary from the Sky Sports presenters
TET
Good to see yi on
Guy fawkes answered you at end of last blog
HH
Maeda Kyogo Jota was good enough for a treble winning team, shouldn’t Maeda Kelechi Jota be good enough for this one?
I seem to recall Maeda and Jota switching their positions back and forth during matches fairly regularly to mix things up- or am I imagining that?
An Dun – thank you.
I’m not making the connection.
Daizen wanted to leave during the summer.
Understood.
At what point did he refill his locker?
i.e. was there still a possibility of Daizen leaving on 01 September?
If not? … given the now prevailing narrative we have too many left wingers in the squad …
… Why push the boat out considerably to sign Tounetki at all?
(Who, BTW, was announced 43 minutes before the window closed)
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL
It is entirely possible that a CEO under considerable scrutiny having failed to recruit the striker and right winger his manager wanted, went out on transfer deadline day and bought a left winger that we didn’t need.
wee bobby collins
would the nobel prize winner be on this guys team ?
https://x.com/vijayprashad/status/1667700789026889733?lang=en
https://www.reddit.com/r/energy/comments/1o1m3ki/is_trumps_sudden_interest_in_venezuela_really/
AT
Had to succumb to the urges, been reading some incredible revision of the truth, I will respond at some point, quite enjoying your spats with KJ.
Keep on keeping on
HH
Just noticed the post when you mentioned it AT, look forward to your email GF.
HH
Anyways, did Jota score his incredible goal against the huns from the right, digging into the old grey matter and without youtubing it just can’t recall, more of that will be some tonic, his comeback can’t come soon enough
When Jota started on the right wing we won 25 drew 2, and lost 4-3 away at Betis.
Everyone hopes Jota will be back, fit and firing come January.
That is an assumption that our manager does not have the luxury of making though.
BR will understandably, want a right winger signed in January.
Why is it that so many naturally right footed players cannot play on the right wing?
Surely they could beat a left back on the outside and put a decent ball into the danger area with their right foot.
Nygren is very left footed but played on the right wing.
When I watch the team I always think we have right wingers pplaying at outside left.
Unless the game plan is to use overlapping full backs to go up the wing on their natural side to put crosses in.
At the moment, it seems to me that the wingers always tend to cut inside onto their preferred foot rather than go to the line and cut the ball back.
Must be modern fitba.
Jinky aand Davie Provan would be left wingers now.
GLENOWEN from earlier
Love your comment
kingLUBO
TET
Your enjoying my spats,that’s fair enough
I dont!! dealing with racists,is not nice.
Hope all well in the cave and your good lady is keeping well.
HH
None the wiser, looks like he came from the middle, no matter it was sublime
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XDup7XeqB_U
AT
Maybes enjoying isn’t the right word, but you know what I mean…..
I am good thanks, the better half not so much sadly, but it’s called life.
HH
An Dún on 10th October 2025 1:40 pm
It is entirely possible that a CEO under considerable scrutiny having failed to recruit the striker and right winger his manager wanted, went out on transfer deadline day and bought a left winger that we didn’t need.
———–
Cheers AD.
This would be same CEO who …
.. according to agreed minutes of the meeting
‘confirmed that player trading above certain financial values require approval from the
Celtic plc Board’ ?
Hmm.
The Blogger … on 9th October @ 8:13 pm
Here’s a copy of the minutes that isn’t a cut and paste job.
https://cdn.celticfc.com/assets/Fan_Meeting_Minutes_6th_October_Celtic_091025_Final.pdf
——
Nice one GM. Thank you.
10 pages !
Might take me all weekend to read it.
What a convoluted process to acquire talent spending in some cases in excess of 5 Million pounds, are we to believe everybody in the multi-disciplinary approach has expertise in buying football players ? As Celtic football club usually wait till last few days or indeed the last 12 hours to either buy or get last m,i mute load deals it beggars belief that everyone in this convoluted transfer set up is consulted by Email, twitter text or called…………too many cooks spoil the broth
Supporter Groups also sought confirmation as to who ‘values’ players and agrees commercial terms. CMcK explained that a multi-disciplinary approach is taken. This approach is led by the football department who identify players, with the executive team concluding transactions. This was noted by MN as not being unusual within football clubs. JG asked if the football manager sanctioned all signings, MN confirmed that he did. MGe asked why the Manager referred to some signings as ‘club signings’ – MN shrugged his shoulders.
Discussion turned to the valuation of players. MN and CMcK explained how the process operates, and which factors are considered – including the needs of the selling (or buying) Club, the player’s personal desires, time left on the players’ contract etc. When asked about applicable ‘ceiling’ on player costs, MN confirmed that valuations forms part of the overall discussion regarding a player and the evaluation of said player against all relevant factors and relative prices within the wider market.
Supporter Groups questioned the involvement of NEDs within the transfer process. CMcK and MN confirmed that player trading above certain financial values require approval from the Celtic plc Board (with such approval thresholds are standard practice amongst businesses). Supporter Groups questioned how this approval was sought and CMcK confirmed board members would be emailed for final approval but would be aware of the background in advance.